A.R. Rahman Calls Bollywood “Communal”; Says Work Has Been Limited Due to Industry Politics

Legendary composer A.R. Rahman is once again in the spotlight as he works on the music album for Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayan. Rahman opened up about the religious context of the project, his personal upbringing, and the challenges he has faced in the Hindi film industry.

Rahman, who had a busy 2025 starting with the album Gandhi Varta, revealed that his workload in Bollywood has reduced in recent years. He attributed this to political shifts and communal sentiments within the industry over the past eight years. While he has not personally experienced overt discrimination, he hears of such incidents indirectly.

“I am not searching for work; I prefer that meaningful projects come to me,” Rahman said. “I believe chasing work actively is bad luck. Honest work alone should bring rewards.” When asked about his early career in the 1990s, Rahman stated, “Perhaps I was unaware of such issues back then. Maybe God shielded me from them. I never felt it personally, but power dynamics in the industry have changed over the past eight years.”

Booking Cancellations and Industry Politics
Rahman explained how projects sometimes get reassigned. “I hear things like ‘You were booked for this project, but the company went ahead and hired five other composers.’ In such cases, I simply think, ‘Great, now I can spend more time with my family.’”

A Muslim Composer for the Ramayan
Addressing questions about whether his faith influenced his work on Ramayan, Rahman said, “I studied in a Brahmin school where the Ramayan and Mahabharat were taught every year. I understand the story—its ideals, virtues, and lessons. Knowledge is invaluable, whether it comes from a king, a beggar, good deeds, or bad. We should never turn away from it.”

He added, “We must rise above narrow-mindedness and self-interest. I am proud that this project reflects love and harmony from India to the world. Hans Zimmer is Jewish, I am Muslim, and yet we are creating music for a Hindu epic.”

Collaboration with Kumar Vishwas
Rahman also spoke about working with poet and scholar Dr. Kumar Vishwas on the film’s music. “We are moving beyond old notions of how the Ramayan should be depicted, while still respecting its cultural essence. Dr. Vishwas’s deep understanding of the text and the language brings a profound touch to our work. It’s a wonderful collaborative experience.”

Ramayan’s Cast and Release
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayan features a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol, Kajal Aggarwal, Arun Govil, and Indira Krishnan. The film is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release.